It’s been more than a week since 19 MLAs met the Governor and gave letters announcing withdrawal of support to Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami. Three more MLAs have joined this group, opposition parties too have demanded a floor test, but Governor Vidyasagar Rao is showing no signs of asking for one.
Four political party leaders, VCK leader Thirumavalavan, CPI (ML) leader Ramakrishnan, MMK leader Jawahirullah and CPI leader Mutharasan, met the Governor on Wednesday demanding a floor test in the assembly. Addressing the media after the meeting, MMK leader MH Jawahirullah said that Governor conveyed to them that the ball was not in his court. CPI leader Ramakrishnan said that Governor had told them that he will not intervene because it is an ‘internal party matter’.
Responding to the Governor’s comments to the four leaders, DMK Working President MK Stalin accused him of acting like a broker in a fish market. “The Governor is saying now that the ball is not in his court, where was the ball when he had sworn in OPS? When he is saying ball is not in his court, we will decide if the DMK’s ball needs to be put in that court or not. We will take a decision according to the law.”
When asked if BJP was behind the governor, Stalin said, “Definitely BJP is behind him. The way Governor held hands of OPS and EPS together, he acted like a broker in a fish market. It is a shame to democracy,” said Stalin.
Political analyst Ramasubramanian questioned the Central government for not appointing a full-time Governor for Tamil Nadu. He said, “We should understand that he is not a regular Governor, he is the Governor of Maharashtra holding an additional Governor post in Tamil Nadu, this has been going on for one year. The priorities of the Modi government have been made clear. If there is a political crisis, he won’t come and handle unless BJP government tells him to,” he said.
Ramasubramanian too calls the Governor, an agent of the BJP. “All the opposition parties are asking the Chief Minister to prove majority, he said he won’t intervene. It is clearly proven that he is an agent of the BJP government.”
“How can he say that it is an internal party problem when 19 MLAs have approached him as he is a constitutional head. He has to take a decision, it is not an internal matter. I think approaching the court is the only way for opposition parties,” said Ramasubramanian.
However, political analyst KV Murari feels that it is an internal party issue and the Governor was right in not intervening. “Governor is not ready to confront because they have their own legislature party. If a group of MLAs do not want the Chief Minister they should convene a meeting and replace him. Also, three months ago in Arunachal Pradesh, Supreme Court had asked the Governors to stay out of internal party matters. The government does not have any other parties giving it outside support, it is a government with only the AIADMK and that is why governor might not be acting.”
He also added that the opposition party can opt for a no confidence motion. “But it might be politically inconvenient because TTV Dhinakaran’s MLAs might abstain saying that they do not support the government but they do not want to be seen with DMK. But I think the DMK will have to move it soon, no matter the consequence,” said Murari.